What have you done to your XS today?

[Tron311]

took her for her maiden voyage yesterday around the neighborhood. It was pretty successful. Still have a few issues though, front brake has zero modulation and locks up super easy (it was wet out but I almost rear ended a truck at a stop sign). Front brake pressure switch doesn't turn the brake light on. Back brake does nothing, shoes looked good when I had it apart so probably just adjusting the rod. Turn signals just stay on and make a terrible buzzing noise (relay).

All in all a good first ride!

 

[MaxPete]

Well, those are all fairly typical issues with "oldies" becoming "newies" again Tron - so it looks like you've got yourself a ball game there!

Pete

 

[roadstar06]

put right side case back on after replacing washers that go behind clutch basket- guess what she's a runner now, very happy to say it took it down the block today for the first ride.

 

[gggGary]

Been working on this, bet you can guess what bike it's headed for. found it on CL in northern Wisconsin last winter, the wheel bearings were the worst seized I have ever seen, replacements on order. A bit corroded but cleaned up fine for a rider. The matching rear will be a bigger project, have to make spacers, and have to convert the bike to disk rear, will show some details when I get going on it.

 

[MaxPete]

What is the difference between the first two photos (I must be missing something)?

Also - I guess that is red paint you are stripping off in photo #3.

Finally, what sort of wheels are those - not Suzuki GS wheels and certainly not stock Yamaha Specials or Honda Comstars...

 

[Mailman]

I posted a thread a while back about finding what I am sure is the very bike I owned back in 1977-78. It was a YouTube video for a British auction house and appeared to be a couple years old. It had those very wheels on the bike as well as the rear wheel disc brake conversion. Keep us posted with updates Gary, I for one am very interested!

 

[gggGary]

Wheels are Yamaha....
I even have the paperwork. Guy I bought the rear from had the complete XS650 rear wheel version with brake kit but he wasn't letting go of it!

 

[Denisesewa]

There is a front pentagram wheel on eBay right now described as a "dealer option" for the xs650, as Gary says, Yamaha

 

[MaxPete]

So, they were dealer aftermarket accessories? Interesting, I’ve never seen them here in Canada - even back in the day.

EDIT: just saw your confirmatory post Denisewa.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

So, they were dealer aftermarket accessories?

More info:

http://www.xs650.com/threads/pentagram-star-wheels-my-rebuild-and-how-to-thread.40530/

 

[MaxPete]

Cool! I wonder if they were a US only thing.

 

[weekendrider]

gggGary I've wondered how the rear might match/mate up with an OEM rear disc set-up on a special frame.
They are going on period piece?

 

[gggGary]

Yupper! You got it, that's the burgundy paint. Front is getting an FZR rotor perhaps the rear also.
would rather get a smaller OD rear rotor but light weight will be trump. Will prolly be mixing and matching some disk rear brake parts to the drum frame but first the rear bearing/axle spacers need to be turned. I got the aluminum stock from an ebayer that deals in cored aluminum round bar drops. as usual a story there. I'll follow up on that star wheel thread 2many obligingly dug up.

 

[lakeview]

Two books came in the mail today. A quick leaf through Mr. Pahl's book backs up the good reviews.
Sprung for the bigger one to get free shipping, plus to keep the mental wheels turning. Fortunately, i have no space or time for a pick up project, but a 55 or 56 on a late model 4WD frame would sure tick a lot of boxes.

 

[Denisesewa]

Since I had an unmolested frame sitting around, last friday I decided to strip the "cop" bike and build another tracker , most time consuming has been building the carbon fiber electronics tray and getting the geometry for the monoshock just right, after several mock-ups I threw the math out the window and got it right, 5 inches of travel and really nice articulation with tons of preload,comp and damping adjustment available . the plan is to do another inverted front end, brace the swingarm, Pamco&PMA and I have a set of aluminum rims , just have to lace em up. lots of fab work yet to do but I'm pleased with the result so far.
yesterday I recieved the "Delkevic" stainless pipes, super high quality and the best looking in my opinion.
so four days of work turned this >>>

into this >>>>

 

[gggGary]

Wow! Looks sharp. I couldn't get that much done in 4 YEARS!

 

[Mailman]

Wow! Looks sharp. I couldn't get that much done in 4 YEARS!

No doubt! What a transformation! Those two bikes don't even look like they're from the same planet.
Really nice work!

 

[Denisesewa]

Ha! Well it kinda feels like I aged four years

 

[Doug79]

CRAP! those pipes are way better looking than the ones I got from Omar! very nice work on the mono shock.

 

[TimeMachine]

Searched local previous parts sources today for pre 80 XS rotor, stator, etc xtra whatevers. Know whats out there these days ? Zilch, Zero, Nada..